Alabama Bike Plan

8/9/2019 Alabama Bike Plan

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ALABAM A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANOCT 2009

Draft 1

INTRODUCTION

The Alabama Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was developed to 1) improve processes and

practices to minimize barriers for local and regional bicycle and pedestrian planning, 2) improve bicycle

and pedestrian planning and design on ALDOT-maintained roadways, and 3) minimize impacts of ALDOT

roadway projects on non-motorized transportation.

The overall purpose of the Plan is to guide decisions as to where bicycle and pedestrian facilities should

be provided to meet the demands for bicycling and walking. Appropriately located bicycle and pedestrian

facilities will give rise to bicycling and walking as viable and safe modes of transportation.

Implementation of the plan will achieve the following goals:

• Integrate existing bicycle facilities with a larger, statewide bicycle network.

• Establish bicycle facilities between municipalities and other resources throughout the state.

• Establish pedestrian and bicycle facilities that complement local and regional non-motorized

transportation plans.

ROLE OF THE PLAN

The Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan provides ALDOT with two tools with which to design and

construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities:

• A statewide network of on-road bicycle facilities. The plan designates a set of on-road bikewayswhich connect Alabama’s municipalities and natural/cultural resources.

• A set of design recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. These will guide ALDOT

and developers in determining where and what type of facilities are appropriate on ALDOT-

maintained roadways.

STATEWIDE BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommended network will consist of five east/west corridors and three north/south corridors. In

addition, connector routes were also identified to link the statewide network with specific metropolitan

areas and natural/cultural resources.

The routes in the statewide system will be improved incrementally as part of the regular cycle of ALDOT

road construction and maintenance. The on-road bicycle facilities recommended in this Plan can be built



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as shared lanes, wide outside traffic lanes, bike lanes, and paved shoulders as determined by ALDOT

staff.



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PLANNING AND DESIGN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATIONS

UPlanning

This Plan identifies conditions for which ALDOT will consider bicycle and/or pedestrian facilities on

roadways other than those within the statewide bicycle route network. If deemed appropriate, the type of

facility that is provided will be determined by ALDOT staff through an evaluation of multiple factors

including the public right-of-way, facility design requirements, the built environment, and traffic conditions.

• The highway or street is designated as a bikeway in a regionally or locally adopted bike plan or is

published in a nationally, regionally or locally adopted map as a recommended bike route.

• The highway project will negatively affect the recreational or transportation utility of an

independent bikeway.

• The route or intersection provides primary access to (a) employment centers; (b) commercial

facilities (c) transit stations/stops; (d) schools; or (e) parks or stadiums.

• The roadway provides unique access across a natural or man-made barrier.

• A locally or regionally adopted pedestrian plan has designated pedestrian improvements in the

area of the specific roadway project.

• There is current evidence of frequent pedestrian activity.

• There is a history of pedestrian-related crashes.

• The roadway improvement will create a safety impediment to existing or anticipated pedestrian

travel.

UBicycle Facility Design

There are four on-street bicycle facilities and each have advantages and disadvantages within different

environments.

• Shared lane. Shared lanes can be used by both

bicycles and motor vehicles with no special provision

for bicycles. They are generally 12-feet wide or less

and do not have usable shoulders. Shared lanes workwell on rural roads with low traffic volumes and in urban

environments with low motor vehicle speeds. Source: www.pedbikeimages.org; Photographer: Dan Burden



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• Wide outside traffic lane. Wide outside lanes are far

right through traffic lanes that are generally wider than

12-feet but less than 15-feet. There is no bicycle-

specific striping. The advantage of these lanes is there

is more space for a motor vehicle to pass a bicycle.

They are most applicable on major streets in urban and

suburban environments.

• Bike lane. Bike lanes are striped bicycle-only lanes that

are 4-feet to 5-feet wide, depending on the adjacent

condition. They are most applicable on major streets in

urban and suburban environments and are rarely used

in rural conditions.

• Paved shoulder. Paved shoulders are beneficial for

both bicycles and motor vehicles since they provide a

safe area for bicyclists and also serve as a break-down

area for motor vehicles. The minimum recommended

width is 4-feet and increases as traffic volumes, speeds,

and the percentage of heavy vehicles increase. Paved

shoulders are best in suburban and rural environments

or on higher speed urban arterials.

Source: www.pedbikeimages.org; Photographer: Dan Burden





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UPedestrian Facility Design

The two primary types of pedestrian facilities that would normally be found on ALDOT-maintained

roadways are sidewalks and crosswalks. There are numerous design elements for each of these facilities

that should be considered. Many of these specific design details fall within the Americans with Disabilities

Act Accessibility Guidelines . These design details include the following:

• Sidewalks – width; pavement selection; obstacles such as manhole covers, utility poles,

vegetation, and standing water; running slope; cross-slope; and treatment at intersecting

driveways

• Curb Ramps – type (parallel, perpendicular, diagonal, combination); orientation; running slope;

cross slope; width; and landing area

• Detectable Warnings – location; width; color; and dome alignment

• Channelizing Islands – cut-throughs versus curb ramps; location related to feeding curb ramps;

and utility and signal pole locations

• Pedestrian Push-Buttons – type; size; contrast; orientation to direction of travel; location relative

to curb ramps; location on channelizing islands; and locator tone

• Audible Signals – location; and tone/message selection

• Crosswalks – width; pavement selection (pavers, stamped); and obstacles (utilities, grates)

UFunding

There are both federal and local funding sources available for non-motorized transportation projects and

programs. The following table shows types of projects and programs and the corresponding potential

funding sources.



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Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding Opportunities

Project/Program Type Potential Funding Program

NHS STP HSIP SRTS TEA CMAQ RTP FTA TE BRI 402 PLA TCSP JOBS FLH BYW

Bicycle and pedestrian plan * * * *

Bicycle lanes on roadway * * * * * * * * * * *Paved shoulders * * * * * * * * *

Signed bike route * * * * * * *

Shared use path/trail * * * * * * * * *

Single track hike/ bike trail *

Spot improvement program * * * * *

Maps * * * *

Bike racks on buses * * * * *

Bicycle parking facilities * * * * * * *

Trail/highway intersection * * * * * * * * *

Bicycle storage/ service center * * * * * * * *

Sidewalks, new or retrofit * * * * * * * * * * *

Crosswalks, new or retrofit* * * * * * * * * *

Signal improvements * * * * * *

Curb cuts and ramps * * * * * *

Traffic calming * * * *

Coordinator position * * * *

Safety/education position * * * *

Police patrol * * *

Helmet promotion * * * *

Safety brochure/

book

* * * * * *

Training * * * * * *

Acronym Key

NHS National Highway System BRI Bridge

STP Surface Transportation Program 402 State and Community Traffic Safety Program

HSIP Highway Safety Improvement Program PLA State/Metropolitan Planning Funds

SRTS Safe Routes to School TCSP Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot

Program

TEA Transportation Enhancement Activities JOBS Access to Jobs/Reverse Commute Program

CMAQ Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program RTP Recreational Trails Program

FLH Federal Lands Highway Program FTA Federal Transit Capital, Urban & Rural Funds

BYW Scenic Byways TE Transit Enhancements





Documents

Alabama Bike Plan